Heat exchanger



C. S. SIMPELAAR HEAT EXCHANGER April 14, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 3. 1948 April 14, 1953 c. s. SIMPELAAR HEAT EXCHANGER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1948 C. S. SIMPELAAR HEAT EXCHANGER April 14, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 3, 1948 [rave C'Zycle 6? Sim eZacU" 14 April 1953 c. s. SIMPELAAR 2,634,958

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Dec. 3, 1948 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 14, 1953 c. s. SIMPELAAR 2,634,958

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Dec. 3, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Cgyde 5 az'rn vezczczr J41 fla s.

liquid inlet end of the core structure is a fitting 2'! (see Figs. 2 and 3), here shown as formed of a single rectangular plate having a liquid inlet 28 and a liquid outlet 29 cast integral therewith,

and arranged to be connected to piping. lJ-he liquid inlet leads to a channel 33 which opens to the inlet end 20 of the liquid passes, and the liquid outlet 2! leads to a channel 3! which opens from the outlet end of the liquid passes.

The liquid inlet and outlet fitting 21 is here shown as detachably secured to the core structure by hook bolts 32, (see also Fig. l) which are hooked into the cross bars 26 and extend through the fitting and have nuts 33 on their threaded ends bearing against the outer face of the fitting. A gasket 34 is interposed between the fitting and core structure, and is formed with holes for the hook-bolts, and with a slot 35 which establishes communication between the liquid inlet channel 30 and inlet end of the liquid passes and said gasket is formed with a slot 35 which establishes communication between the channel 3! and outlet end of the liquid passes.

At the end of the core structure opposite the one to which the liquid inlet and outlet fitting is attached, is a gas inlet fitting 33 having an inlet opening 39 opening to the inlet end 40 of the several slabs of gas passes i'l. A gas gasket 43 is interposed between the gas inlet fitting and the end of the core structure, and said gasket is formed with bolt holes and with an opening 44 for establishing communication between the gas inlet fitting and the inlet end 49 of the gas passes. Hook bolts 45 are hooked into the bars 25, and extend through the bolt holes in the gasket and gas inlet fitting, and have nuts 45 on their threads ends for tightening the fitting against the gasket.

The gas passes are formed by nested together channel shaped fin members 42, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 8. The gas fin members extend between the gasket 43 and the bars 26, and their open ends are blocked off by said bars 26. The fin members 42 are provided with holes 41 adjacent their ends for cross flow of the gas.

The gas passes may be divided into groups 48, 49 and 50, (see Fig. 3) separated into such groups by fin members 24, one of which is seen in detail in Fig. 7. The fin members 24 are each provided with holes adjacent one end only, the remainder of the fin members 24 being imperforate, preventing the gas from passing from one group to the other except through the holes 5|.

The holes in one fin member 24 are disposed at one end thereof, and the holes in the other fin member 24 are disposed at the opposite end thereof, whereby the gas is caused to circulate through a circuitous path through the gas passes from the inlet end 40 to the outlet end 52. It is to be understood that the gas flows in the same direction in the several passes of any group.

A gas outlet fitting 53 is secured to the core structure at the outlet end 52 of the gas passes (see Figs. 2 and 3) as by bolts and nuts 54, 54a. To provide a solid connection between the gas outlet fitting and the core structure, reinforcement bars 55 and blocks 56 are bonded to the core structure, and the bolts 54 may be rigidly anchored in said bars 55 and blocks 55 end extend through a bolting flange 51 formed on the gas outlet fitting. Certain of the bolts 54 may be anchored in the cross bars 26, and the bolts,

54a may be in the form of hook bolts anchored in reinforcement bars 55. Corrguated reinforce- 4 ment strips 12' (see Figs. 1, 3 and 5) may be pro vided between the separation sheets l8 at the discharge end of the gas passes.

In the liquid inlet and outlet fitting 21 is formed a drainage channel 58 closed by a plug 60 (see Fig. 1), and connected to the gas passes by ducts 58 (see also Fig. 9). By suspending the heat exchanger from the end containing the gas inlet fitting 38 and unscrewing a plug 50 any liquid which may have collected in'the gas passes may be drained out through the channel 58.

The gas fin member may be imperforate between the holes 41, or their bottom walls-may be corrugated as shown at 60 in Fig. 10, or they may be provided with diagonal slits 61, with downturned lips as shown in Fig. 11. The bottoms of the gas fins may be otherwise contoured to obtain greater surface area.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14 which is shown as applied to an oil cooler, the water passes are shown at [6a and the oil passes at lea. These passes are formed of nested together channel shaped fin members as in the preferred form and extend from end to end of the core structure, the water and oil passes being arranged alternately. Channel shaped bars 25a, close the ends of the oil passes at one end, bars 26a close the ends of the water passes at the other end of the core structure. A water inlet and outlet fitting 53 is removably secured to one end of the core structure as by bolts and nuts 64, and an oil inlet and outlet fitting 55 is removably secured to the other end of the core structure by bolts and nuts 66. Angle shaped bands 61 are bonded to the core structure and the bolts extend through bolting flanges of the fittings and through said angle shaped bands. Gaskets 68 may be interposed between the flanges of the fittings and the angle shaped bands to provide leak-proof joints.

The water inlet, and outlet fitting 63 and the oil inlet and outlet fitting 65 are each provided with a partition 69, in which is secured a bearing strip 70 that bears against the core structure and respectively divide the water and oil inlet and outlet fittings 63 and 55 into inlet and outlet chambers. The fin members are provided with holes adjacent their ends but in oppositely disposed relation so that the incoming water may cross fiow through the water passes, and discharge through the water outlet chamber. The same arrangement is provided in the oil inlet and outlet fittings, whereby the oil enters the oil passes through one chamber and discharges from the oil passes through the other chamber.

In the modified form of oil cooler shown in Fig. 15, each inlet and outlet fitting 53a is provided with a partition 59a, and a separate head 1 I bolted to the fitting 33a is provided which may be removed from the fitting without disturbing the gas connections.

From the above it is apparent that I have provided a heat exchanger, having inlet and outlet fittings removably secured to a core structure having liquid and gas passes through which may be exposed for inspection and cleaning by removing the fittings.

Having thus described my invention, it will be apparent that variousimmaterial modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

asserts What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a heat exchanger the. combination of a core structure comprisin alternately disposed slabs of liquid passes and slabs of gas passes arranged for substantially counterfiow heat ex-' change, the passes being formed by channel shaped fin members, the bottom walls of the fin members which form the gas passes having perforations adjacent their ends forming a plenum chamber to provide cross flow from one pass to the next adjacent one, metal separation sheets, one between adjacent slabs of passes, each slab being closed at one end and open at the other end, with the closed ends of the adjacent slab being positioned at opposite ends-oi the core structure, a liquid inlet and outlet fitting detachably secured to the end of said core structure upon which the liquid passes open, and in communication with the liquid passes, a gas inlet fitting d'etachably secured to said core structure at the opposite end thereof upon which the gas passes open, and in communication with the gas passes, a gas outlet fitting detachably securedto a side of the core structure, in communication with said gas passes and gaskets one interposed between each fitting and the core structure, and said gas passes arranged for access thereto for inspection and cleaning upon removal of the gas inlet fitting.

2; In a heat exchanger the combination of a core; structure comprising alternately disposed slabs of liquid passes and slabs of gas passes, the passes being formed by channel shaped fin members, the bottom walls ofthe fin members which form the gas passes having perforations adjacent their ends to provide for crossflow from one pass to the next adjacent one, a baffiedividing said gas passes into groups, said bafile having perforations adjacent one end for the passage of gas from one group to the next adjacent group, metal separation sheets separating adjacent slabs of passes, a

liquid inlet and. outlet fitting detachably secured to one end of said core structure in communication with one end of liquid passes, agas inlet fitting detachably secured to said core structure at the opposite end thereof and in communication with the gas passes, a gas outlet fitting detachably secured to the core structure in communication with said gas passes, and gaskets one interposed between each fitting the core structure.

3'. In a heat exchanger the combination of a core structure comprising alternately disposed slabs, of liquid passes and slabs of gas passes, the passes being formed by channel shaped fin members, the bottom walls of the fin members which form the gas passes havin perforations adjacent their ends to provide for cross flow from one pass to the, next adjacent one, bailies dividing said passes into. groups, said bafrles each having perforations adjacent one end for the passage of gas to a next, adjacent group, the perforations of one baflie being disposed adjacent one end of the core structure, and the perforation of the other baiiie being disposed. adjacent the opposite end of'the core structure, metal separation sheets, one between each adjacent slab of passes, a liquid inlet and outlet fittin detachably secured to one end of said structure in communication with the liquid passes, a gas inlet fitting detachably secured to said. core structure. at the opposite end thereof, and in communication with the gas passes, a gas outlet fitting detachably secured to the core structure incommunication with said gas passes, and gaskets. one interposed between each fittingand the core structure,

.4 In a heat exchanger the combination of. an elongated hollow fi-uid pass, a plurality of fin elements having their respective side edges secured to oppositely disposed side walls. of said pass, said fin elements longitudinally extending substantially from one end of said pass. to the other to divide said pass into a plurality of longitudinally extending fluid passageways, said fin elements having apertures therein-adjacenteach end thereof providing communication between thepassageways with at least one of said fin elements being solid at one end to provide a bafiie operative to form a circuitous fluid path. through said pass, and means adjacent each end. of the fluidpath so formed. for providing: a fluid. inlet and. outlet for said pass.

5. In a heat exchanger the. combination of a core structure comprising several alternately disposed slabs of fluid passes comprising slabs. of liquid passes and slabs of gas passes in heat exchange relationhipformed by: nested together channel-shaped fin elements and. separated by metal sheets, the nested together channel-shaped fin elements comprising each slab of fluid passes forming a plurality of continuously straight, substantially parallel fluid passages, plenum chambers formed at eachend of said slabs of fluid passes, the bottom. wall of the nested together channel-shaped fin elements which form certain of the slabs of fluid passes having perforations adjacent an end thereof forming a plenum chamher to provide cross flow from one passage to the next adjacent one, cross bars adapted for closing one end of each slab-oi the liquid passes, the opposite ends thereof being open throughout their length, and other cross bars adapted for closing the opposite ends of each slab of the gas passes, the opposite ends thereof being open throughout their length, a liquid inlet and outlet fitting detachably secured to one end oi-the core structure of the open ends of and in communication with the liquid passes, saidfitting having a drain passage therein communicating with said gas passes, a gas inlet fitting detachably secured to said core structure at the opposite end thereof and in communication with the open ends of the gas passes, a gas outlet fitting detachably secured to the core structure in communication with said gas passes, and gaskets, one interposed between each fitting and the core structure.

6. In a heat exchanger the combination of a core structure comprising alternately disposed slabs of fluid passes including slabs of liquid passes and slabs of gas passes arranged for substantially counterfiow heat transfer and separated by metal sheets, the passes being formed by nested together, channel-shaped fins, plenum chambers formed at each of said slabs of fluid passes, the bottom wall of the nested together channelshaped. fins which forms certain of the slabs of fluid passes having perforations adjacent one end thereof forming a. plenum chamber to provide cross fiow from one pass'to the next adjacent one, and the liquid passes being, arranged in groups with bafiies separating the groups at alternate ends, whereby the liquid circulatesthrough a circuitous path from an inlet end to an outlet end, said sheetsv and fins being bonded together to form an integral structure, a liquid inlet and outlet fitting connected to. a complementary end of the core structure havingv an inlet channel communicating with the inlet ends of the liquid passes, and havin an outlet channel communicating with the outlet ends of'the liquid'passes, a gas inlet fitting connected to 'a complementary end of the core structure and having an inlet opening communicating with the slabs of gas passes, a gas outlet fitting connected to the core structure at the outlet end of the gas passe complementally formed to the ga outlet fitting and gaskets interposed between the several fittings and core structure, and said liquid passes and said gas passes arranged for access thereto for inspection and cleaning upon removal of said air inlet fitting and said liquid inlet and outlet fitting.

7. In a heat exchanger the combination of a core structure comprising alternately disposed slabs of fluid passes including slabs of liquid passes and slabs of gas passes separated by metal sheets and arranged for substantially counterflow heat transfer, the slabs of fluid passes being formed by nested together channel-shaped fins providing a plurality of substantially parallel fluid passages, the bottom wall of the nested together channel-shaped fins which form the slabs of gas passes having perforations adjacent each end thereof forming plenum chambers to provide cross flow from one passage to the next adjacent one, and the liquid passes being arranged in groups with bailies separating the groups at alternate ends, whereby the liquid circulates through a circuitous path from an inlet end to an outlet end, cross bars for closing one corresponding end of each slab of the liquid passes and other cross bars for closing the 010 posite corresponding end of each slab of the gas passes, a liquid inlet and outlet fitting connected to a complementally formed end of the core structure at the open ends of said liquid passes, and having an inlet channel communicating with the inlet ends of the liquid passes, and having an outlet channel communicating with the outlet ends of the liquid passes, a gas inlet fitting detachably secured to the opposite end of the core structure and having an inlet opening communicating with the slabs of gas passes, a gas outlet fitting connected to the core structure at the outlet end of the gas passes, and gaskets interposed between the several fittings and the core structure, and said liquid passes.

and said gas passes arranged for access thereto for inspection and cleaning.

3. In a heat exchanger the combination of a core structure comprising alternately disposed slabs of liquid passes and slabs of gas passes separated by metal sheets, said liquid and gas passes arranged for access thereto for inspecting and cleaning, the slabs of liquid and gas passes being formed by nested together channelshaped fins providing a plurality of continuously straight, substantially parallel fluid passages, cross bars for closing one corresponding end of each slab of the liquid passes and other cross bars for closing the opposite corresponding end of each slab of the gas passes, a liquid inlet and outlet fitting disposed on the end of said core structure at the open ends of said liquid passes in communication with the liquid passes, a gas inlet fitting disposed at the opposite end of the structure in communication with the gas passes,

a gas outlet fitting secured to a side of the core 9. A heat exchanger comprising in combination a core structure, comprising alternately disposed slabs of liquid passes and slabs of gas passes arranged for substantially counterfiow heat exchange, with metal separation sheets separating each slab of passes from the next adjacent one, said passes being formed by nested together channel-shaped fin members, all of said fin members extending in the same direction, the liquid passes being open at one end and closed at the other end, and the gas passes being open at said other end and closed at their other ends, and there being openings at the bottom walls adjacent an end of the fin members to form a plenum chamber to provide for cross fiow of the gas, a liquid inlet and outlet fitting connected to the core structure at, and extending cross the open ends of the liquid passes and complementally formed to the inlet and outlet fitting, a gas inlet fitting connected to the complementally formed structure at, and extending across the open ends of the gas passes, and a gas outlet fitting connected to the core structure at the gas outlet thereof complementally formed to the gas outlet fitting whereby upon removal of the liquid inlet and outlet fitting and gas inlet fitting, the liquid and gas passes are adapted for cleaning and inspection.

10. A heat exchanger comprising in combination a core structure arranged for access thereto for inspection and cleaning, comprising alternately disposed slabs of liquid passes and slabs of gas passes arranged for substantially counterflow heat exchange, with metal separation sheets separating each slab of passes from the next adjacent one, said passes being formed by nested together channel-shaped fin members extending in parallel directions, the liquid passes being open at one end of the respective fin members forming such passes and closed at the other end, and the gas passes being open at the opposite end of the fin members forming such passes and closed at their ends adjacent the open ends of the liquid passes, and there being openings at the bottom Walls adjacent the ends of certain of the fin members providing for cross flow of the gas, a baffie in each slab for dividing the liquid passes into groups and forming a plenum chamber to provide for cross fiow, a perforated baflie in each slab for dividing the gas passes into groups and arranged to provide for cross flow of the gas, a liquid inlet and outlet fitting connected to the complementally formed core structure at the open ends of the liquid passes, a gas inlet fitting connected to the complementally formed structure at the open ends of the gas passes, and a gas outlet fitting connected to the core structure at the gas outlet thereof complementally formed to the gas outlet fitting.

11. In a heat exchanger, the combination of a core structure arranged for access thereto for inspection and cleaning and comprising alternately disposed slabs of liquid passes and slabs of gas passes, the passes arranged for substantially counterfiow heat exchange and being formed by nested together channel-shaped fin members, the bottom walls of the fin members which form the gas passes having perforations adjacent their ends to provide cross fiow from one pass to the next adjacent one, said fin members extending substantially in the same direction, metal separation sheets, one between adjacent slabs of passes, baffies in the several slabs of passes for directing the fiow of liquid and gas in circuitous paths, each slab of gas passes being open at one of the corresponding ends of said fin members, each slab of liquid passes being open at the opposite end thereof, a liquid inlet and outlet fitting connected to the end of said core structure at such open ends of, and in communication with the liquid passes, a gas fitting connected to said core structure at the opposite end thereof complementally formed to the gas fitting, and in communication withthe adjacent open ends of the gas passes, a gas fitting connected to a side of the core structure complementally formed to the gas fitting and in communication with said gas passes, means for sealing the other end of each slab from the adjacent fitting thereat and gaskets one interposed between each fitting and the core structure.

12. In a heat exchanger, the combination of an elongated hollow fluid pass, a plurality of nested together channel-shaped fin elements having their respective side edges secured to oppositely disposed side walls of said pass, said fin elements longitudinally extending substantially from one end of said pass to the other to divide said pass into a plurality of longitudinally extending fluid passageways, said channel-shaped fin elements each having apertures formed in the bottom thereof adjacent each end of the pass forming a. plenum chamber to provide communication between the respective passageways, and inlet and outlet fitting members adjacent each end of said pass for providing a fluid inlet and outlet therefor.

13. In a heat exchanger, a core structure comprising a plurality of slabs of nested, channelshaped fin members forming longitudinally extending passages, the fin members forming said slabs arranged for substantially counterfiow heat exchange and extending in parallel directions,

with the ends of all finmembers terminating at a pair of oppositely disposed ends of the core structure, frame members at one of said ends adapted for sealing certain of said slab ends thereat from the corresponding ends of adjacent slabs, additional frame members at the other of said ends also adapted for sealing the ends of the other slabs thereat from the adjacent ends of the first-mentioned slabs, the elements of said core structure being bonded together into an integral unit, each of said slabs being formed'at its closed end with passages therein providing cross flow at such end, the passages providing cross flow being formed by apertures in the bottom wall in at least one end of the channelshaped fin members forming the respective slabs and connections secured to said core structure forming a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for each slab, one of said connections extending across one of said ends and communicating with the open slab ends thereat, and the other extending across the other of said ends and communicating with the open slab ends thereat, said last-mentioned connections including heater flanges connected to complementary casing flanges of the core structure, so as to permit detachment of one of such connections exposing the adjacent open slab ends thereat, and the detachment of the other of such connections exposing the adjacent open slab ends thereat, whereby upon detachment of the last-mentioned connections, the longitudinally extending passages are adapted for cleaning and inspection.

14. In a heat exchanger, a core structure arranged for access thereto for cleaning and inspection and comprising a plurality of spaced,

substantially parallel sheets, a plurality oi elongated nested together channel-shaped fin members positioned between each pair of adjacent sheets forming slabs of fin members, said fin members extending in parallel directions, with the ends of all fin members terminating at a pair of oppositely disposed ends of the core structure and forming a fluid pass between each pair of adjacent sheets, frame member at one of said ends adapted for sealing the ends of certain of said passes thereat from the corresponding ends of adjacent passes, additional frame members at the other of said oppositely disposed ends also adapted for sealing the ends of the other passes thereat from the adjacent ends of the firstmentioned passes, whereby said fluid passes formed are arranged in substantially counterfiow heat exchange relationship, each of said passes being formed at its closed end with passages therein providing cross flow at such end, the passages providing cross flow being formed by apertures in the bottom wall in at least one end of the channel-shaped fin members forming the respective slabs and connections secured to said core structure forming a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for each pass, one of said connections extending across one of said ends and communicating with the open pass ends thereat, and the other extending across the other of said ends and communicating with the open pass ends thereat, said last-mentioned connections including header flanges connected to complementary casing flanges of the core structure, so as to permit detachment of one of such connections exposing the adjacent open pass ends thereat, and the detachment of the other of such connections exposing the adjacent open pass ends thereat.

15. An elongated hollow fluid pass for a heat exchanger having inlet and outlet connections for the fluid circulating therethrough and comprising a plurality of channel-shaped fin elements having their side edges nested together, said fin elements longitudinally extending substantially from one end of said pass to the other to divide said pass into a plurality of longitudinally extending fluid passageways, and the bottom wall of said channel-shaped fin elements each having apertures therein adjacent each end of the pass adapted to form a plenum chamber at each end of the hollow fluid pass to provide communication between the respective passageways, and the plenum chambers adapted to be connected to the inlet and outlet connections of the heat exchanger.

CLYDE S. SIIVIPELAAR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,534 Treadwell Mar. 31, 1840 213,635 Drache Mar. 25, 1879 837,146 Theryc et al. Nov. 27, 1906 871,308 Vassel Nov. 19, 1907 940,244 Friedenthal Nov. 16, 1909 1,065,837 Reichhard June 24, 1913 1,313,730 Pease Aug. 19, 1919 1,775,819 Fischer et al Sept. 16, 1930 2,380,002 Wetherby-Williams July 10, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 146,413 Germany Nov. 16, 1903 159,933 Great Britain Mar. 10, 1920 105,971 Sweden Sept. 17, 1942 

